BORN OUT NEWTON, YORKSHIRE, 1894. SON OF JOHN SPRAY & ELIZABETH THOMPSON, OF 26, AIR STREET, HULL (WAR PENSION ADDRESS). HIS FATHER DIED IN 1911 AND HIS SIBLINGS ARTHUR AND EVA DIED IN INFANCY. HIS BROTHERS, GNR. TOM SPRAY, LIVED AT 5, BOURNEMOUTH STREET, HULL & BERNARD SPRAY, LIVED AT 21, AIR STREET. HE WAS A SINGLE MAN AND WORKED AS A COAL LABOURER.
HE ENLISTED IN HULL AT THE OUTBREAK OF WAR. SERVED WITH THE 7TH EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT. DIED OF WOUNDS, ON 1/10/1915 AT LOOS, AGED 20. HIS ARMY EFFECTS WERE LEFT TO HIS WIDOWED MOTHER, ELIZABETH. HE IS COMMEMORATED ON THE ST MARY’S CHURCH MEMORIAL, SCULCOATES LANE, HULL.
HIS BROTHER, SERGEANT BERNARD SPRAY, ROYAL FIELD ARTILLERY WAS AWARDED THE MILITARY MEDAL. (HDM 23/05/1918). HIS FIANCEE LIVED AT 7, BROMLEY STREET, HULL
